Barrel-cover



UNITED STATES PATENT OE c Jenn MURRAY, on ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

BARREL-COVER.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,396, datedJ'uIy23, 1895.

Application filed September 16, 1894-.- Serial No. 523,110.

useful improvements in barrel-covers for goods in the process ofmarketing.

The object of my improvements is to provide a depressing cover that willfit wholly inside the barrel and keep the main body of the goods underpressure, or below the surface of the brine or liquid, while allowingac- 1 cess thereto without lifting the cover itself,

and furthermore, one that can be expanded so as to cover the varyingarea due to the difference of head and bung diameter as the goods aretaken from below the cover.

To this end my improvements have reference to a head having a fixeddiameter slightly less than the diameter of the cask at the chine, toreadily enter the same and rest upon the contained goods with more orless pressure, but chiefly to an expansible attachment to said head,whereby its diameter is increased as the cask increases in diametertoward the bilge or bung and engages with the cask to maintain it inplace.

In the accompanying drawings, on which like reference-letters indicatecorresponding parts, Figure 1 represents a plan perspective of the heador body; Fig. 1, a lid adapted to fit therein; Fig. 2, a plan View ofthe head with expansionsegments; Fig. 3, a section on the line y 1 Fig.2; Fig. 4, a section on the line a; as, Fig. 2; and Fig. 5a dovetailsliding connection. I,

In the sale of goods that are more or less injured by exposure to theair,it is often difficult to prevent such deterioration, while at thesame time allowing ready access for mar- 'keting.

pecially suffer in quality, and my invention is particularly applicableto. barrels containing such.

Referring to Fig. 1, the letter A designates a head of considerablethickness and weight, depending on the material of which it is made andthe goods it is applied to. If made of the Such goods as pickles andkraut es-' No model.)

preferred material, pottery or artificial stone, it may be one andone-half inches in thicknesss to compress the kraut. It is provided witha holeB, preferably with inclined sides, in which fits a lid 0. Theweight of the head will give sufficient pressure upon the kraut anddescend with it into the barrel as the kraut is taken out through theholeB. For pickles, however, it is preferred to use an expansionattachment to the said head, consisting of sliding segments D D, Fig. 2,having slots d and pins E, which allow of substantially radial travel ofthe segments. The dotted lines in Fig. 2 indicate the increased diameterobtainable by forcing outward the said segments. This expansion is donein the preferred form by means of a wedge-frame F, fitting around thehole B and having a slid,- ing connection with the segments D to causethem to travel away from the center as the frame slides across the headon suitable guides G.

Fig. 4 shows the slot in the side of the frame, and Fig. 3 the pinconnection with the segments. The edges of the latter have sharp pointedprojections, such as dowels or serrations, which are thus engaged withthe sides of the cask and support the cover at the surface of theliquid. below it and out of contact with the air. The frame F is shownwith a hinged lid as the preferred form. The opening Bis substantiallyin the center of the head, and the frame F is long enough to give accessto the hole in any point of its travel. Its extreme positions will bewhen the segments are drawn in on entering the barrel, as shown by thefull lines, Fig. 2, and when it hasexpanded the cover to the bilgediameter by its travel forward across the head.

As the cover will be exposed to more or less dampness on its under sideand to the air above, it will have a tendency to warp unless -made ofsome unshrinkable material, such as pottery, artificial stone, or glass.The two last named are especially suitable for its construction onaccount of their cleanliness and weight, which admirably serve theobject of the invention. I regard this unshrinkable feature as one ofthe features of my invention.

I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown. 1

Referring to Fig. 5, another form of sliding connection between thewedge-frame and the expansion-segments is shown. It consists of adovetail tongue and groove, which connects each segment with thewedge-frame, so as to draw them in or push them out as the frame ismoved in one direction or the other across the head or body piece A.This form dispenses with the guides G in the center of the head, it itbe desired. Any suitable sliding connection, however, may be employed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A barrel cover, comprising a body having an interior opening forpassage of the barrel contents, and horizontal guides on its uppersurface, a secondary cover for said open-.

ing, and a transversely sliding attachment adapted to be mounted on saidguides, or dispensed with according to requirements.

2. A brine barrel cover comprisinga transversely sliding Wedge-framesurrounding, but

, not obstructing, a hole through the cover giving access to thecontents of the barrel and adjunctive devices operating therewith.

3. A brine barrel cover comprising a maincover having an access hole tothe subaqueous contents, an open frame slidingly mounted around saidhole without closing it in normal adjustments, and expanding piecesoperated by said frame to engage anywhere with the sides of the barrel.

4. A barrel cover comprising a main cover having an access hole towithdraw the contents from below, a transversely sliding framesurrounding said access hole without obstructing it, and expandingsegments on opposite sides of said frame and slidingly connectedtherewith.

5. An interiorly adjustable cover forbrine barrels, comprising awedge-frame, open for access below, and movable segments embracing saidwedge-frame, having a slidingly operated connection of dovetail tonguesand grooves on said members to push out and pull in the segments by thesliding of said wedgeframe.

6. A barrel cover comprising a main cover with a hole for passage of thecontents, adjustable segments slidingly connected to said main coverabout saidhole, and means to hold said segments in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J OHN MURRAY.

. Witnesses:

M. J ACOBY,

H. M. PLAISTED.

